HRC Announces the Recipients of Queer to Stay, Small Business Grant Funding

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, and SHOWTIME announced the
twenty recipients of “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative” to support and uplift
small businesses that focus on LGBTQ+ people of color, women and the transgender community and
have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, the inaugural “Queer to Stay” initiative
awarded funds to 10 LGBTQ+ businesses across the country. Over the past 18 months, LGBTQ+
businesses have continued to suffer due to the continued need for on-and-off shutdowns and limited
capacity regulations, which is why the Human Rights Campaign and SHOWTIME have doubled the
program to support 20 businesses in its second year. Additionally, five LGBTQ+ Showtime stars
nominated one of their favorite businesses for the Queer to Stay grant. Watch here to hear from the actors
and business owners about the importance of preserving queer spaces.

“It is crucial to preserve affirming, welcoming spaces and services for LGBTQ+ people. This initiative
celebrates and supports the community by identifying and donating to multiply marginalized LGBTQ+
owned, and serving, small businesses around the country,” said Nicole Cozier, Human Rights
Campaign Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “We have been living through a
public health crisis for far longer than we ever could have imagined, without a clear end in sight, which
has only compounded the financial inequities small LGBTQ+ businesses face. We are thrilled to work
with SHOWTIME once again to ensure that LGBTQ+ patrons, employees and business owners continue
to occupy spaces freely, openly and as their authentic selves.”

The awardees of “Queer to Stay: An LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative” include: Al’s on 7th
(Birmingham, AL), Arledge Comics (Port Orchard, WA), BUDDY’S (Houston, TX), Our Place
(Birmingham, AL), Club OMG (San Francisco, CA), Cowlick (Brooklyn, NY), Cubbyhole (New York,
NY), Cuties (Los Angeles, CA), Ellen D. Management (Los Angeles, CA), Gossip Grill (San Diego,
CA), The Lipstick Lounge (Nashville, TN), Nickel Diner (Los Angeles, CA), Rebirth Garments
(Chicago, IL), Roscoe’s Tavern (Chicago, IL), Spectrum: The Other Clinic (Hattiesburg, MS), Stuzo
Clothing (Los Angeles, CA), Sweetlime Alterations (Cleveland, OH), TAGG Magazine (Washington,
DC), The Fireplace (Washington, DC) and Wang Chung’s (Honolulu, HI).
“SHOWTIME is passionate about empowering all voices within the LGBTQ+ community, and through
Queer to Stay, we’re continuing to elevate LGBTQ+ small businesses across the country helping them to
broaden their footprint and impact,” said Michael Engleman, Chief Marketing Officer, Showtime
Networks Inc. “In addition to financially supporting a diverse mix of LGBTQ+ establishments across the
nation – including a clinic, restaurants, bars, salons and shops – we’re expanding into educational resources to help business owners surmount overwhelming obstacles and flourish during the disruption of
the pandemic.”

People of color have also faced significant challenges, including discrimination and socio-economic
barriers in sustaining their small businesses. According to one study, Black applicants who applied for
Paycheck Protection Program loans were treated unfairly compared to their white counterparts. By
directing funds to these businesses, “Queer to Stay” demonstrates a continued commitment from HRC
and SHOWTIME to support and advocate for the diverse members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to monetary grants, the program will include educational webinars and teaching modules,
created by Horizon Media, to help the small businesses manage various aspects of their operations,
including financial management, search engine optimization and social media marketing.
“We created the teaching modules based on the findings of recent Horizon market research on the most
common challenges facing LGBTQ+ businesses,” said Marc Fenty, SVP, Director OOH, and a
member of HorizonOUT. “The goal is to provide a valuable resource that helps LGBTQ+ business
owners grow sales and overcome the significant challenges of managing a business amid a global
pandemic.”

In 2020, HRC Foundation published a research brief outlining the health and economic risks faced by the
LGBTQ+ community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings show that many LGBTQ+ people
may lack the resources to effectively combat COVID-19; lack access to paid sick leave or live without
health coverage; and are more likely to work in an industry that has been most affected by the pandemic,
putting them in greater economic jeopardy or increasing their exposure to the virus. HRC Foundation
research has also shown that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be unemployed and to have lost work
hours compared to the general population, with transgender people and people of color most at risk.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people
are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.